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Chester solons get Class 4 earful

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC As the Chester Select Board wordsmithed a final version of its policy on the maintenance and use of Class 4 highways at its Oct. 1 meeting, two landowners addressed objections – not to the policy in general – but to how it impacts their properties specifically. Board […]

Act 181 is coming: How will it affect your property?

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 181 that makes a number of changes to the state’s laws on land use with special attention to encouraging new housing in downtowns. But there may also be changes to the way rural land is treated and landowners should pay […]

Is Chester’s long-delayed sidewalk project in the Depot finally a go?

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Children in second grade at Chester-Andover Elementary today had not been born when the Town received an $800,000 grant to build a sidewalk from Bargefrede Road at the lower portion of Depot Street to Town Hall. But after an eight-year delay that doubled the project’s cost, the […]

Chester board talks Class 4 roads, economic development and flags

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In a relatively short meeting last Wednesday, the Chester Select Board covered a lot of territory including looking at forming an economic development commission and further refining the language of a policy on the maintenance and use of Class 4 roads. Economic Development Commission Town Manager Julie […]

Chester planners consider bylaw change to allow LED sign for GM, but zoning glitch may preclude it

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing On Monday evening, Chester’s Planning Commission got down to work on an issue that’s been on its radar for a while. That being “electric message display” signs or EMDs. The idea of such a sign for Green Mountain Union High School has been raised at past planning meetings […]

Chester board talks optional sales tax, Class 4 roads and 40-year-old money

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Wednesday’s Select Board meeting agenda was heavy with discussion and pretty light on action items. And for long-time Chester board watchers it was like old times with multiple comments from former members Derek Suursoo and Bill Lindsay. Three agenda items came in for substantial discussion: a 1 […]

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  • 'Button Up' urges Vermonters to weatherize using state rebates and expiring tax credits 

    ‘Button Up’ urges Vermonters to weatherize using state rebates and expiring tax credits 

    As temperatures drop across the northeast, partners in the statewide  Button Up Vermont campaign are urging homeowners and renters to prepare their homes for colder temperatures using Vermont weatherization and heat pump rebates—and use soon-to-expire federal tax credits for projects completed this year. Weatherization rebates from Efficiency Vermont, Vermont Gas Systems and other partners aren’t […]

  • Create Together receives $12K grant for free monthly community programs

    Create Together receives $12K grant for free monthly community programs

    Create Together at Fletcher Farm recently received a $12,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to launch “Creating in Community,” a series of free monthly programs designed to bring neighbors together through collaborative art projects. The first program will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19 at its campus located at […]

  • Celebrate nature, art and language at Whiting Library Oct. 4 with local author Jonathan Otto

    Celebrate nature, art and language at Whiting Library Oct. 4 with local author Jonathan Otto

    The Whiting Library, 117 Main St. in Chester, will welcome local author and illustrator Jonathan Otto for a free family event at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. It is best-suited for children ages 6 years and older and their caregivers. A former Chester resident, Otto will read from his illustrated children’s book Child of […]

  • Springfield Community Band seeks musicians for Holiday Concert

    Springfield Community Band seeks musicians for Holiday Concert

    The Springfield Community Band is looking for new players for its Annual Holiday Concert that is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19. All players are welcome. Rehearsals are held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning Oct. 7, at Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road in Springfield. If you are interested in joining, send an […]

  • Invasives Part 2: Non-chemical and chemical ways to eliminate non-native invasive plants

    Invasives Part 2: Non-chemical and chemical ways to eliminate non-native invasive plants

    By Will Danforth ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC There are ways to eliminate non-native invasive plants from your landscape. The method you choose should be right for the plant, for your particular environment and for you. Non-chemical approaches With over 100,000 man-made chemicals in the environment, most with untested and unintended consequences, it’s best to avoid […]

  • Chester Select Board agenda for Oct. 1

    Chester Select Board agenda for Oct. 1

    The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 1 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St. To join the meeting click here. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes from the Select board Meeting dated September 17, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Coin Drop […]

  • Drought-stricken Vermont now under a burn ban

    Drought-stricken Vermont now under a burn ban

    Starting at noon today, Monday, Sept. 22, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has issued an order for all Town Forest Fire Wardens to cease issuing burning permits. The order will remain in effect until it is revoked. The order may be revoked on a statewide basis or on a county-by-county basis, depending […]

  • Grace Cottage to host two flu vaccine clinics

    Grace Cottage to host two flu vaccine clinics

    Grace Cottage Family Health, 185 Grafton Road in Townshend, will host flu vaccine clinics from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 8. Pre-registration is  recommended (call 802-365-4331); walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. You are not required to be a patient at Grace Cottage. At the same time, Grace […]

  • Springfield Area Parent Child Center launches online auction to support children's mental health

    Springfield Area Parent Child Center launches online auction to support children’s mental health

    Springfield Area Parent Child Center announces the launch of its Online Auction Fundraiser, which runs through Wednesday, Oct. 1. Community members and supporters are invited to browse, bid and win items in support of SAPCC’s mission of building bridges of support for young children, families and caregivers throughout 18 towns in southeastern Vermont. The online […]

  • Invasives Part 1: Eliminating invasive plants is a good start to reclaiming biodiversity in Vermont

    Invasives Part 1: Eliminating invasive plants is a good start to reclaiming biodiversity in Vermont

    By Will Danforth ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Do you care about the natural world in Vermont? Then let’s tackle foreign invasive plants. Invasive, non-native plants are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity — the vtinvasives.org site says, “Monitoring for and treating invasive terrestrial plants is one of the most important things you can do […]

  • Free Health & Wellness Fair, BBQ lunch in Derry Sept. 19

    Free Health & Wellness Fair, BBQ lunch in Derry Sept. 19

    Neighborhood Connections is sponsoring a Health & Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 at its offices in the Mountain Marketplace, 5700 VT Route 100 in Londonderry. More than 25 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the benefits and services that are offered in the community. A free BBQ […]

  • Chester quilter Linda Diak awarded grant from Vermont Arts Council

    Chester quilter Linda Diak awarded grant from Vermont Arts Council

    The Vermont Arts Council recently announced the 26 recipients of its most competitive grant program, the Creation Grant, which awards Vermont artists up to $5,000 to be used for developing new work. Linda Diak, an award-winning quilter from Chester, was selected to receive a fiscal year 2026 Creation Grant to support the creation of art […]

  • Whiting Library's Annual Book Sale Sept. 20 & 21

    Whiting Library’s Annual Book Sale Sept. 20 & 21

    Whiting Library’s Annual Book Sale will take place on the library lawn, 117 Main St. in Chester, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. It will occur in collaboration with the Chester Festival on the Green. The Book Sale comprises donated […]

  • To the editor: Let Vermont politics remain civil

    To the editor: Let Vermont politics remain civil

    The recent murder of Charlie Kirk is a stark and tragic reminder of just how fragile our democracy and our civil society can be when disagreements cross the line into violence. Let me be clear: I fundamentally reject much of the rhetoric Kirk stood for. His words often carried racism, homophobia, and misogyny views that […]

  • Chester Select Board agenda for Sept. 17

    Chester Select Board agenda for Sept. 17

    The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and via Zoom. To join the meeting go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81988842129 Below is its agenda 1. Approval of minutes from the Select Board meeting dated Sept. 3, 2025 and Special Select Board meeting dated […]

  • Chester GOP holds reorganization caucus Sept. 16

    Chester GOP holds reorganization caucus Sept. 16

    Registered voters of Chester are welcome to join the Chester Republican Committee in holding its Republican Town Re-Organization Caucus and Meeting, at 6 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 16 at the Fullerton Inn Meeting Room, 40 The Common, in Chester. The committee is electing seven officers/delegates and seven alternates to represent Chester, the largest Republican town committee […]

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